Shank for shoes



June 4, 1929. c, HARKREADER 1,715,548

SHANK FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 1928 gwuentov 6 Tfiarkraaier Figure 1;

M. the shank is in its Patented I June 4, 1929.

[CHARLES a; HARKBEADER, oreumcY, rumors.

" SHANK FOR SHOES.

Application filed. August 7,-1928. Serial No. 298,020. I

This invention relatesto shanks for -shoes: J and more particularly to shanks for use nf welt orfMcKay shoes. Y

An important object of the invention is to provide a shank which will aflord at once a rigid support, limiting downward movement of the longitudinal arch of the foot and a flexible and flexing support moving upwardly to engage the foot arch when pressure 1s applied to the forward end of the arch.

A further object of the invention .is to produce a device of this character which may be very readily and cheaply constructed and which may be very readily inserted in the shoe in the'construction thereof.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illus tration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe shank constructed in accordance with my invention; 7

V "Figure 2 is a 'plan view thereof, a portion of the pad being removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the pad; 7 V

Figure 4 is a section on the. line 4-4 of Figure 5 is a section on the line5-5 of Figure 1' i Figure 6 is adetached plan'view of the adjacent ends of the shank sections. I p

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the shank 10 in general is arched from end to end and has at its forward-end a reflexed curved portion 11 adapted to be positioned beneath the forwardend of-the arch of t-hefoot. The rear portion of the shank is slightly dipped or concaved in its upper surface, as indicated at 12, to conform to the natural curvature of the heel. This shank is formed in two sections '13 and 14, adjacent ends of which overlap and are pro vided with oppositely extending notches 15, .which open through opposite side edges thereof, so that these overlapped portions may be interdigitated. The portions 16 of these sections lying outwardly of the notches are offset slightly, so that the sections when combined are disposed in alignment with one another. These portions 16 each engage the other section to limit the pivotal move-, ment at the connection thus provided when properly lowered arch position.

ATENT 1 OFFlQE-ii It will be obvious that upon the applie cation of pressure to' the forward end" v, the arch of the foot is maintained andthe arch is supported. The outer end-of the section 14 is preferably widened to form a tri-- of the section 14, which isprovided with angular head 18, which is centrally ape'r- Y tured, as at 19, with a polygonal aperture. A pad, preferably ofsoftrubber, is provided, consisting of portions adapted to engage opposite faces of the head, indicated at 20,

and a portion21 extending'through and fitting the aperture 19. The portions engaging one face of the head are made relatively thin so that they may be readily fiexed'to admit oftheir passage through the aperture. 1. The heel portion. 13 is provided with openings 22 for the passage of securing elements to secure 7 the same to the heel of the shoe.

It will be obvious that a device of this character maybe readily produced by stamping and accordingly may be verycheaply L manufactured. Due to its structure, it is easily embodied in the shoe in the manufacture thereof and will materially assist in supporting the arches of the footwhen the .wearor is standing or walking.

- Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of'a certain range of'change and modification without materially-departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to'such specific structure except 3 f v as 'hereina fter claimed.

.Iclaimd; f 1 v i 1. A shoe shankcomprising a metallic arch having at its forward end a reflexed curve adapted to (underlie the forward-end. of the longitudinal arch,'said metallic arch; being formed in pivotally connected sections the pivotal connection of which extends trans- Versely'of the center of the arch and limits downward movement of the sections, the section having the refiexed curve being broad.- ened at its end and provided with a polygonal aperture,'and a cushioning pad-comprisingportions adapted to abut opposite faces of said broadened portion and a connection between the first mentioned portions extending through and fitting said aperture. 2. A shoe shank comprising a metallic arch support'having-at its forward end a reflexed curve adapted to underlie the forward-end of notches, the notch of eachsection-receiving the longitudinal arch of the "foot, said-arch support being formed in-tWo sections'having a combined length greater than thelength' of the arch support, adjacent" ends ofthe sections having in opposite side edges thereoii and at points slightly spaced from such ends the portion of the other section transversely aligning with the notchtherebyzpermittingf interdigitation of the sections while in align,- ment 'With'one another; said end of each section beingshghtIy offset to permit the'sec tions to be disposed in alignment with one another when the arch is inits normal position; said end portion limiting downward movement of the sections in the normal position of the arch While permitting upward,

movement thereof to increase the camber o the arch support. 1 

